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Vox2Smtpl is a small program that converts MagicaVoxel .vox model files to StarMade .smtpl files.
This means you can take advantage of the power and convenience of modelling a ship or part in MagicaVoxel, and importing it into StarMade. Modelling in MagicaVoxel is much, much faster than modelling in StarMade directly.
Here's a small example:
INSTRUCTIONS
Installation
1. Download Vox2Smtpl and MagicaVoxel (note I have no affiliation or connection with MagicaVoxel or its author)
2. From the Vox2Smtpl zip file place the editor.ui file in MagicaVoxel's /config folder (overwrite existing file)
3. Place the pal0.png file in MagicaVoxel's /palette folder (overwrite existing file)
Usage
4. Start MagicaVoxel and in the left Palette column click either the "0" button at the top or the "Load" button at the bottom to load the pal0.png custom palette
5. Create your model in MagicaVoxel, save it (note the red axis, x, is length, the blue is height, green is width)
6. Double click VoxToSmtpl_v01.jar to run it (get Java for 64 bit Windows here if you don't already have it)
7. Click "Load" and select your .vox file
8. Click "Save" to create a corresponding .smtpl file
9. Make sure your .smtpl file is in your StarMade install location in the /Templates folder
10. When in build mode for a ship, enter advanced build mode, choose your template in Selection, click Load, and Paste
POSSIBLE FUTURE FEATURES
These will probably depend on demand, my personal needs, how big a job they are, and my free time. (let me know which you'd most like to see)
- Auto-wedging during conversion
- Conversion in the other direction: .smtpl to .vox
- Conversion to a full blueprint instead of a template
- Have the palette be read from a text file so users can easily modify it themselves
- Show more ship stats during conversion
- Should I alter the axes used in MV to have the same labels as in SM? I.e. "x", "y", "z" - user opinions required.
- Update so that multi-layer files created by VoxelShop will also work correctly
- Auto-creation of "template-placing-guide template file" during conversion for easy pasting of templates around a ship core at a desired location: paste the "guide" to the back of the core, then paste the ship template to the back of the guide. Easy way to avoid the frustration of getting a SM template to paste exactly where you want it.
DISCUSSION/LIMITATIONS
I created this program because I get frustrated with the slow speed of modelling/designing directly in SM.
Vox2Smtpl isn't a complete solution (although it's enough of one for me to start playing again), some obvious ones being no wedges etc., and no way of linking blocks (e.g. computers with modules).
And of course parts of what it and MV do together aren't perfect (MV's an existing tool repurposed for a task, not a custom tool built for that task).
Read more below if you like.
LINKS
Vox2Smtpl:
MagicaVoxel to StarMade Converter
MagicaVoxel:
MagicaVoxel - Home
MagicaVoxel
VoxelShop:
VoxelShop | blackflux.com
Qubicle:
Qubicle Voxel Editor for Mobile Game Development, Modding, 3D-Printing
A couple of good youtube intros to MV:
Video1
Video2
Please feel free to post here any questions, problems, bugs, suggestions, or requests. Also please share your custom palette colours if you create one better than mine (it was a rush job), or any scripts you write that others might like.
This means you can take advantage of the power and convenience of modelling a ship or part in MagicaVoxel, and importing it into StarMade. Modelling in MagicaVoxel is much, much faster than modelling in StarMade directly.
Here's a small example:
INSTRUCTIONS
Installation
1. Download Vox2Smtpl and MagicaVoxel (note I have no affiliation or connection with MagicaVoxel or its author)
2. From the Vox2Smtpl zip file place the editor.ui file in MagicaVoxel's /config folder (overwrite existing file)
3. Place the pal0.png file in MagicaVoxel's /palette folder (overwrite existing file)
Usage
4. Start MagicaVoxel and in the left Palette column click either the "0" button at the top or the "Load" button at the bottom to load the pal0.png custom palette
5. Create your model in MagicaVoxel, save it (note the red axis, x, is length, the blue is height, green is width)
6. Double click VoxToSmtpl_v01.jar to run it (get Java for 64 bit Windows here if you don't already have it)
7. Click "Load" and select your .vox file
8. Click "Save" to create a corresponding .smtpl file
9. Make sure your .smtpl file is in your StarMade install location in the /Templates folder
10. When in build mode for a ship, enter advanced build mode, choose your template in Selection, click Load, and Paste
POSSIBLE FUTURE FEATURES
These will probably depend on demand, my personal needs, how big a job they are, and my free time. (let me know which you'd most like to see)
- Auto-wedging during conversion
- Conversion in the other direction: .smtpl to .vox
- Conversion to a full blueprint instead of a template
- Have the palette be read from a text file so users can easily modify it themselves
- Show more ship stats during conversion
- Should I alter the axes used in MV to have the same labels as in SM? I.e. "x", "y", "z" - user opinions required.
- Update so that multi-layer files created by VoxelShop will also work correctly
- Auto-creation of "template-placing-guide template file" during conversion for easy pasting of templates around a ship core at a desired location: paste the "guide" to the back of the core, then paste the ship template to the back of the guide. Easy way to avoid the frustration of getting a SM template to paste exactly where you want it.
DISCUSSION/LIMITATIONS
I created this program because I get frustrated with the slow speed of modelling/designing directly in SM.
Vox2Smtpl isn't a complete solution (although it's enough of one for me to start playing again), some obvious ones being no wedges etc., and no way of linking blocks (e.g. computers with modules).
And of course parts of what it and MV do together aren't perfect (MV's an existing tool repurposed for a task, not a custom tool built for that task).
Read more below if you like.
The three leading Voxel editing programs available appear to be Qubicle, MagicaVoxel, and VoxelShop.
They can all save files to MV's .vox format (although getting the palette to SM block ID mapping correct would require some palette editing/creation), but none of these three is the perfect voxel software in every possible way.
I chose to concentrate on MV for two reasons: it has the most powerful and advanced selection and manipulation functions of all three, and for the coders among us the ability to run user-written functions on the loaded model in-program.
The weaknesses of MV are:
- it restricts size to 126^3 (for large ships you'll have to break it into multiple templates)
- has no native Linux build (but runs nicely with WINE or PlayOnLinux)
- has no layers (but you can easily select complex regions based on colour and move them, or build a model from multiple sub-models in their own files)
Also, the palette is restricted to 256 entries (I had to choose which SM blocks to leave out e.g. wedges, plants, shards, capsules, etc.). Note that you can edit the colours of the palette to whatever you like without affecting the mapping to SM block in Vox2Smtpl (.vox files record the location on the palette for each voxel as opposed to the colour itself).
The custom editor.ui file included with Vox2Smtpl adds a narrow column to the right of the palette (A) with two-letter codes indicating what is in each row. Mousing over the codes shows a full block list for that row in the status bar at the bottom of the window (B).
This is how the other two voxel programs compare to MV:
Qubicle:
- Not free: full expensive version, cheaper Steam version, and severely crippled free version.
- Has multiple "matrices" in each model which (I think) can function as layers and mean unlimited size.
VoxelShop
- Has a Linux build
- Has layers (incredibly useful - if MV had layers and a larger build size it'd be perfect)
- textured blocks instead of plain colours (also directional?)
Note that although it isn't really relevant, MV has an excellent built-in renderer for making beautiful voxel scenes!
They can all save files to MV's .vox format (although getting the palette to SM block ID mapping correct would require some palette editing/creation), but none of these three is the perfect voxel software in every possible way.
I chose to concentrate on MV for two reasons: it has the most powerful and advanced selection and manipulation functions of all three, and for the coders among us the ability to run user-written functions on the loaded model in-program.
The weaknesses of MV are:
- it restricts size to 126^3 (for large ships you'll have to break it into multiple templates)
- has no native Linux build (but runs nicely with WINE or PlayOnLinux)
- has no layers (but you can easily select complex regions based on colour and move them, or build a model from multiple sub-models in their own files)
Also, the palette is restricted to 256 entries (I had to choose which SM blocks to leave out e.g. wedges, plants, shards, capsules, etc.). Note that you can edit the colours of the palette to whatever you like without affecting the mapping to SM block in Vox2Smtpl (.vox files record the location on the palette for each voxel as opposed to the colour itself).
The custom editor.ui file included with Vox2Smtpl adds a narrow column to the right of the palette (A) with two-letter codes indicating what is in each row. Mousing over the codes shows a full block list for that row in the status bar at the bottom of the window (B).
This is how the other two voxel programs compare to MV:
Qubicle:
- Not free: full expensive version, cheaper Steam version, and severely crippled free version.
- Has multiple "matrices" in each model which (I think) can function as layers and mean unlimited size.
VoxelShop
- Has a Linux build
- Has layers (incredibly useful - if MV had layers and a larger build size it'd be perfect)
- textured blocks instead of plain colours (also directional?)
Note that although it isn't really relevant, MV has an excellent built-in renderer for making beautiful voxel scenes!
LINKS
Vox2Smtpl:
MagicaVoxel to StarMade Converter
MagicaVoxel:
MagicaVoxel - Home
MagicaVoxel
VoxelShop:
VoxelShop | blackflux.com
Qubicle:
Qubicle Voxel Editor for Mobile Game Development, Modding, 3D-Printing
A couple of good youtube intros to MV:
Video1
Video2
Please feel free to post here any questions, problems, bugs, suggestions, or requests. Also please share your custom palette colours if you create one better than mine (it was a rush job), or any scripts you write that others might like.
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